Session Overview for Catechists
Slides * Catechist Guide (with Homework on p. 2-3)
- Track A: Monday 10/30/2022, 6:45-8:30 p.m.
- Track B: taught Wednesday 11/1 and Friday 11/3 in Religion class
Gathering Icebreaker (5 min.)
Scenes from a Cup (Charades)
Candidates take turns silently miming actions written on slips drawn from the cup at the center of their table. Other group members guess the name of the action being performed. The point is that we can read actions like we read words, and draw understanding from them. If time, you can also share journal p. 45 responses from the homework,
Opening Prayer (5 min.)
Beatitudes Reading: Matthew 5:3-12
Joe Melendrez, “Mercy”
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BW6_QJg96ic
The Beatitudes and Sainthood (15 min)
Beatitudes Don’t Be Fooled handout
backed by a slideshow which translates the Beatitudes modern language (a.k.a. into emojis)
Saints Presentation
- The Communion of Saints: As Catholics, we look up to the example of the holy men and women who have come before us. Through a particular process called canonization, the Church recognizes a holy person an official Saint (with a captial S). Part of that process is looking at the miracles that have happened due to the intercession of that saint. Intercession means that we can ask a saint to pray for us, often as the patron saint for particular things that would have also been important to that saint in his or her earthly lifetime. The Church does not make Saints, only recognizes them. All of us are called to be saints (with a lower case s) by leading good and holy lives.
- How to “Read” a Saint Image: The Christian faith and example of the saints have inspired many artists over the centuries. Because there are so many saints, it is important to know something about how to recognize the language of symbles used in their portraits.
Here are some basics: Guidelines For Reading Saint Images
Blessed Carlo Acutis: A Millennial Saint
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGaAGFDFIDg
Breakout Session at Tables: Saint Bios (45 min)
- Each table receives about 15 bio cards with information about different saints listed on them. These saint biographies were written by teens just like you. An index listing all of the cards can be found online here.
- After the group has read through a selection of the bio cards, choose one that means something to you, which you will work with personally.
- Complete the Questions Handout for the saint you have chosen.
- Virtual students do NOT need to read all of them; let yourself become interested in 3-5, read them, and then select 1 to answer the Questions Handout.
Candidates do not have to commit to any of the saints explored tonight as their Confirmation Name saint. Rather, the purpose of this activity is to introduce you to the stories of different saints, how to understand their stories and take them as a model for living your life.
Guided Reflection: The Cost of Discipleship (15 min)
As disciples who are Catholic Christians, we have been called by our God to “love as Jesus loved, deny ourselves and follow him.” (Reading and individual reflection on changes we will make in our own lives to become better disciples)
- Reading: Luke 14:25-33
- Guided Reflection (sample leader script)
Jesus tells us that if we want to follow him, really follow him, we have to be totally dedicated.
Nothing can stand between us and Jesus:
- Not our family (if they are not on fire with their own faith)
- Not our activities (that might crowd out our prayer time)
- Not our possessions (our stuff that we should not value more than our relationships with God and others)
We have to be ready to suffer, to recognize that this path of following Jesus is not always going to be a happy one. It will sometimes be dull, sometimes challenging or painful. Jesus gives us two examples to show why it’s worth it. We have to be like the builder who budgets money to build a tower, and like the king who wins the battle even with his troops outnumbered. We have to look at the cost of discipleship which must be paid before we see the great results that will come!
- Response Sheet: The Cost of Discipleship
Read the quotation at the top, a definition of the cost of discipleship. Consider the ways you might better love others as Jesus loved, or ways you might sacrifice the pleasures of life that are standing between you and Jesus. In what ways will you follow Jesus as his disciple?
Then look at the 6 questions written up and down the left and right margins of the page. Inside the large cross outline, jot down one or two words in response to each question. These words represent more complicated answers that will stay in your own heart.
Look back at the words you have written. Among these words are the barriers between you and Jesus as well as the sacrifices that will bring you closer to him. They are your cross. Read the invitation from Jesus at the bottom of the page: “Take up your cross and follow me.” - Prayer Responses: Take up your cross and lay it before the image of Jesus on the prayer table, to ask him to help you leave those things behind. As you await your turn or return to your seat, each person prays individually in silence using the saints prayer cards (reading the info and praying the prayer on back / contemplating and “reading” the image on front).
Homework and Reminders (5 min)
- Choose a saint prayer card (2-sided, with the colored border) to keep and use. This does not mean you will be choosing this saint for your Confirmation Name, but that is an option if you are moved by his/her story.
- Next class for
- Track A: 6:45 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, November 6, in Mission Hall at the Parish Center.
- Track B: in Religion class Wednesday, November 8 and Thursday, November 9 (no school on Friday 11/10)
- Homework due at next class (Flyer with details of homework is set as pages 2 and 3 of catechist plan – Track A on p. 2 and Track B on p. 3)
- Do pages 37-40 in your textbook, which really belongs with Rules & Tools class!
- Do some research for your Confirmation Name selection.
- Bring in the names of 2 saints you are considering for your Confirmation Name, and something about each of them that you think is interesting. It may be helpful to jot down notes for yourself so you do not forget the names and details of the saints you researched. The final essay is due in mid-November.
- See page 2 of “Selecting a Confirmation Name” assignment (Track A | Track B) for research tips. While your search might start with Googling, please draw your research notes from the saint’s entry on CatholicSaints.info, CatholicOnline (Catholic.org), or a similar Catholic website. Wikipedia is not the best place to draw information about saints from because it is so comprehensive about historical detail that it rarely gets to the heart of who the person was and why he or she is a saint. It is not a practical resource. For example, if you wanted to bake muffins, you would look up the recipe on a cooking website, not just investigate the history or variety of muffins on Wikipedia.
- Remember that Sponsor & Parent Night is on Monday, November 13.
- Make sure your Sponsor (or an Adult “stunt-double” from your family) can come with you. Each youth Candidate should have a Sponsor to work with as partners. Tell your catechist table leader if you have to come alone or if you will be sharing a parent or Sponsor with a sibling/cousin/friend also in the class.
- Bring in any missing Commitment (beige) or Sponsor (blue) forms (download for your correct Track at the blog post from the first class).
Closing Prayer Ritual (5 min)
Each student prays with one saint card that has a picture on the front and a little description of the saint and prayer on the back. Some popular cards for our virtual students to choose from:
Litany of the Saints with option to be rapped!
(leader script with approximate timings | backing track)
- Next steps for choosing Confirmation Name
- Read instructions for Confirmation Name reflection paper (final paper due week after Thanksgiving)
- Keep researching saints using the guidelines and resources
Note for later on:
- Service Hours can be done now, submission form open soon; due finally in early February.
- Plan for you, your Sponsor(s) and Parent(s) to all attend the class session on Monday, November 13, 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. It will take place at Q of A Church so we have room to spread out.
- Confirmation Name essay due at end of November – this class helps to launch our efforts to choose and reflect on a Confirmation Name!
- Letter to the Pastor due in early January, to be assigned as classwork in December during the Anointed lesson